Bargain buys: Six holiday homes for sale with a price guide of less than $500,000

Looking for an escape from the city but don’t want to spend a fortune?

Across the country, we’ve scouted out six properties in lifestyle locales that won’t break the bank.

Northern Rivers, NSW

Price guide = $449,000

About an hour inland of Byron Bay in the lush hinterland, many road-trippers consider Nimbin a must-visit destination on the north coast of NSW.

Surrounded by world heritage national parkland, the community is known as an arts and crafts hub with roots in alternative culture.

On a tree-wrapped block with a creek running through the land, there’s a three-bedroom house built in the Queenslander style about five minutes’ drive from the town centre.

Chris Clarke from Elders Real Estate Bangalow said interest in the property had been consistent, with a blend of locals, Brisbane buyers and Sydneysiders eyeing the home. Some had expressed plans to rent out the residence until they were ready to move in, while others were in the market for a second home.

Mr Clarke said the house, which had been relocated from Queensland, had been freshly painted with new plumbing, wiring and new stumps. “It’s move-in ready,” he said.

The classic Queenslander design, as well as the pull of Nimbin itself, is likely to motivate buyers.

“Nimbin has a very strong attraction as a sustainable lifestyle choice, and there are certainly people coming in for weekend breaks,” Mr Clarke said.

“Artistic pursuits would be another [drawcard], and nature of course – it’s right next to the national park with different walking trails, and you can see the [mountain] ranges from that house.”

The property sits on more than half a hectare, has a north-facing deck, and has sweeping views of the surrounds.

East Coast, TAS

Price guide = $405,000

In Sydney and Melbourne, a seven-bedroom house near the water generally won’t come cheap.

Not so in Swansea on the east coast of Tasmania, where a quintessential holiday shack is up for grabs with a guide slightly more than $400,000.

Set a few streets back from the water, the house is in a town blessed with scenery. The village looks out over Great Oyster Bay, with the Freycinet Peninsula visible in the distance and a host of beaches close by.

That location is one of the property’s key drawcards, according to Paul Whytcross from Roberts Real Estate Bicheno.

“From the deck, you’re looking straight across Coles Bay, and you’ll get the sunrise,” Mr Whytcross said. “Swansea has good access to Hobart, it’s approximately an hour’s drive from Wineglass Bay, and there are a lot of vineyards north of Swansea and Bicheno where you can do wine tastings.

“You’ve also got the fishing at Great Oyster Bay, whether that be … for flathead or diving in the water for scallops,” he added.

Mr Whytcross said the property’s size would make it attractive to a broad range of buyers, particularly families. “I envisage they’ll be looking at it as a family getaway property,” he said.

The home needs some renovations, Mr Whytcross said, including work on the kitchen cabinetry and the lower deck.

Interest has included buyers from the Gold Coast seeking a quieter lifestyle and a more moderate climate, with a large residence to accommodate extended family on holidays.

The residence comes with solar panels, timber floors, a secure backyard and a flexible layout.

Adelaide Hills, SA

Price guide = $430,000 – $450,000

If Adelaide is the city of churches, then Adelaide Hills is surely the land of wineries, with cellar doors dotting the landscape from McLaren Vale to Hahndorf and Longwood.

The region lures buyers from Adelaide CBD in search of large estates, a country lifestyle, and access to nature trails, although it’s also common for local buyers to swap one township for another.

In Mount Barker, where a cute three-bedroom cottage is for sale, buyers also have easy access to shops, a cinema, restaurants and pubs, with historic Hahndorf about 10 minutes away by car.

“Mount Barker has all the facilities you’d need available,” explained Andrew Adcock from Adcock Real Estate. “It’s a handy spot to commute from.

“Adelaide Hills is away from the hustle and bustle of the city, and you’ve got a community atmosphere as well,” he added.

The 1890s-era home that Mr Adcock is selling has a storybook facade and a manicured garden, featuring ivy, a passionfruit vine, weeping mulberry and camellias among others. The CBD is about 30 minutes away by car.

The interiors have been thoroughly renovated by the current owner, including a new bathroom and a modern kitchen.

“It’s one of those homes where you don’t have to lift a finger,” Mr Adcock said.

The cottage is expected to attract young couples, small families and downsizers with an eye for design.

Whitsundays, QLD

Price guide = $490,000

Some would argue that nothing beats the Whitsundays come holiday time. With shockingly blue water, pristine beaches and the Great Barrier Reef within reach, the area has earned its status as a beloved travel destination, with Hamilton Island a particular favourite.

In Cannonvale, a town close to Conway National Park and near Whitsunday Island, a three-bedroom entertainer with expansive views has hit the market through Lynne Erricker from Ray White Whitsunday.

Ms Erricker said the property benefited from being close to the local shopping centre, and from having sea vistas on both levels.

Arguably, the main bedroom offers the best outlook, although the home’s multiple decks provide stiff competition.

“You have a shower with a view, and a two-seat spa with a view,” Ms Erricker said of the suite. “The bedroom itself is quite large and would have room for a little sitting room, but you don’t need it because you’ve got the deck outside.”

She said the property would suit couples who regularly entertain visitors, given the two additional bedrooms with patio access.

Although one buyer had wanted to use the property for holiday letting, she said most interest so far had been local. The home has also attracted those working in mining areas looking for a weekender.

“It doesn’t have a huge backyard, and it’s very easily maintained so when you come home you can spend time relaxing,” Ms Erricker said.

She said that while there were some minor areas of maintenance, the residence had been cared for well.

Central Highlands, VIC

Price guide = $475,000

Victoria’s coastal enclaves may see plenty of action in spring and summer, but when it comes to an escape with year-round appeal, it’s difficult to go past Hepburn Springs and Daylesford.

With an impressive concentration of mineral springs, those from Melbourne and further afield frequent the local spas.

Calendar events such as the Swiss Italian Festa and the Produce Harvest Festival contribute to a bustling lifestyle, making the area a hotspot for short stay accommodation.

On Second Street in Hepburn Springs, a two-bedder beside Doctor’s Gully is currently being shopped around.

Tom Shaw from Biggin & Scott Daylesford said the property had proven popular on the market, and would likely be used as a holiday rental or a weekender.

Interested parties have been spread from Melbourne to Geelong and Sydney, Mr Shaw said.

Boasting a leafy setting, Mr Shaw said the house’s low-maintenance features worked in its favour.

“The outlook over the gully is what has drawn people to this property as well as … [the] garden,” he explained.

“It’s almost like borrowed views – you have [an outlook] across the trees, but you don’t have to maintain it.”

The bathrooms have been recently updated, with the property in good condition.

The residence features a galley-style kitchen, split system cooling and heating, and a wood fire for colder months.

Blue Mountains, NSW

Price guide = $450,000 – $470,000

One of the quieter villages in the Blue Mountains, Wentworth Falls is beloved by bushwalkers and, according to Matthew Gale from McGrath Wentworth Falls-Leura, by the locals.

With major supermarkets available in nearby Leura and Katoomba, Mr Gale said residents were drawn to the sleepy vibe in Wentworth Falls, as well as the tight-knit village atmosphere.

Between 60 and 70 per cent of Mr Gale’s buyers come from Sydney –particularly the inner west and hills district – and gems priced at less than $500,000 get snapped up quickly.

Mr Gale is currently marketing a petite two-bedroom home within that price range, which has already caught the attention of buyers.

“There’s been some solid interest mostly from out of area buyers,” Mr Gale said. “When you’re offered this kind of lifestyle at that price point, they do come out of the woodwork.”

The home is close to the local train station and shops, but cloaked in bushland, it maintains a private feel.

It has a fresh coat of paint and new carpeting too. “You really could walk in and live there straight away,” Mr Gale said.

Ample storage is another asset, while a northern aspect fills the home with sunlight.

Mr Gale said some interested parties were hoping to use the residence as an Airbnb asset or as a weekender.